DVD VIDEO GAME CHANGER

REDBOX BATTLES HOLLYWOOD

Redbox, with more than 15,000 DVD Kiosks (and installing new ones at a rate of 8 per day) at supermarkets, restaurants, and discount stores is in a battle with Hollywood. Increasing taking away market share from Netflix, the mail order DVD company, Redbox charges only $1 per day for DVD rentals. Each Redbox Kiosk carries 700 DVDs and 200 titles, mostly the latest releases. However, they also sell DVDs for $7 sometimes in less than two weeks after release which prompted Universal Studies Home Entertainment to instruct Redbox to destroy the used DVDs vs. selling them. Redbox has now sued Universal for violating antitrust laws. Meanwhile, Redbox's success has motivated Blockbuster to team up with NCR (of ATM fame) to open 10,000 DVD Kiosks of their own.

CINEMA TRAINING CENTRAL - NEWS

PARENTS SPEND MORE THAN OTHERS ON CONCESSIONS

Parents are much more likely to purchase concessions than other moviegoers - and to spend on average $4 more than other moviegoers. Although the big three: popcorn, soda, and candy top parental purchases - these moviegoers are more likely to buy nachos, hot dogs, and pretzels, as well.

Every 4 out of 10 parents purchase boxed candy as compared to 3 out of 10 for other moviegoers. Peanut M&Ms top the list of preferred candy followed by Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Twizzlers, Junior Mints, with Gummi Bears and Whoppers tied for last.

Finally, parents are more willing to purchase concessions if the theatre offers discount concession combos.

SPEAKING OF SWEETS

For years, the top five candy purchases at theatres were: Raisinetts, Milk Duds, Red Twizzlers, Sour Patch Kids, and Skittles, in that order. Recently that changed, in fact exhibitors can now segment their market based on taste and offer candy tie-ins depending upon the film being exhibited.

Males 15 - 34 top candy picks: M&M Peanut, Reese's Pieces, Skittles, Sour Patch
Males 35 - 55 top candy picks: M&M Peanut, M&M Plain, Reese's Pieces Cups
Females 15 - 34 top candy picks: Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Gummi Bears
Females 35 - 55 top candy picks: Red Twizzlers, M&M Peanut, M&M Plain

Remember: discounts on combos, having a value menu, and offering concession discount days all increase concession sales. Most favored combo - large popcorn and two large drinks.

CTC WORKSHOPS ADD GREEN

In keeping with current environmental building sustainability trends regarding the design, operation, and maintenance of new and existing buildings, CTC's "Cinema Management" and "Theatre Design" Workshops now include information and how-to's regarding the "greening" of cinemas.

Practical, easily implemented and inexpensive eco-friendly policies and practices, as well as, instruction on how to put your cinema on a path to conserving energy and water while cutting expenses and improving customer relations and community goodwill have been incorporated into the Workshops.

THE SOLE SOURCE FOR CINEMA TRAINING

After 8 years, CTC maintains its unique status and remains the one and only source for professional management and technical training for the cinema exhibition industry. With hundreds of alumni from around the world, CTC's core premise of blending hands-on training coupled with the most up-to-date trends and information on the cinema has proven to be a winning combination that cannot be duplicated. So, when looking to increase and improve your knowledge and expertise regarding the management and operation of a cinema - go the the source - CTC.

ARBOREEL NEWS

SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLING - GOOD OR BAD?

Recycling is a continuous and interdependent process: collecting & processing, manufacturing, use of products, return to collection. Single-stream recycling, SSR (also termed "fully comingled recycling") allows for the comingling of paper and mixed container waste (plastic, glass, & metal). Started about 5 years ago, SSR is based upon the premise that comingling vs. separation is a more efficient and less expensive way to recycle trash.

Most communities now use source separation - meaning that residents sort trash before delivery to curbside - but studies have shown that using SSR increases trash tonnage collected, decreases landfill diversion, saves energy and is much more efficient for waste collectors. The bad side - paper manufacturers say that the quality of the paper materials they receive is problematic, with tons of material having to be re-routed to landfills due to contamination with aluminum, glass, and plastic in the paper products they receive.

So the jury is still out on the overall value of SSR. Like many environmental initiatives SSR has a good and bad side. My guess is that SSR will continue to grow but with improved recycle chain enhancements.

A SMALL ECO-FRIENDLY STEP FOR CINEMAS

Bagcraft Papercon now offers natural kraft popcorn bags and other food packaging for cinemas using natural kraft paper. Natural kraft paper is natural, unbleached, and chlorine-free paper. It is fully compostable and biodegradable and is made with 100% recycled paperboard.

Termed EcoCraft these paper products are not any more expensive than processed paper products and come printed using soy based inks and soy blended wax coatings. Check out EcoCraft products - contact us for information. It's an easy way for your cinema to become more eco-friendly.

ARBOREEL CERTIFICATION

Environmental sustainability and certification specialists, like Arboreel, provide not only the expertise to improve your sustainability but the very important third party certification necessary, in many cases, to obtain tax and other rebates and benefits to going Green. Contact us for more information.

Arboreel - a joint venture between Entertainment Equipment Corporation and Screentrade Magazine promotes, designs and develops environmental sustainability programs and initiatives for cinemas. Arboreel is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and an EPA - Energy Star participant.